When this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the Notable book lists for their annual award celebrating the best in Australian Children’s literature, there were a number of titles from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators in the list. As part of our NAIDOC celebrations, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight these books.
View the whole lists here: Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Books, Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, and the Shortlist.
Older Readers
Borderland by Graham Akhurst
Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn’t exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. Luckily, he’s got his best friend, Jenny, who has been by his side through their hectic days at St Lucia Private. After graduating, Jono and Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the wild western Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Plus, he gets to be the lead presenter! Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Suddenly, Jono’s intuition becomes his best guide. He’s haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What’s the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? And could Wudun be a messenger from the land, fighting back against the invasion?
We Didn’t Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough
The justice system characterises Jamie Langton as a ‘danger to society’, but he’s just an Aboriginal kid, trying to find his way through adolescence. Mark Cassidy and his white mates, the Footy Heads, take every opportunity they can to bully Jamie and his friends. On Lenny’s last night in town, after another episode of racist harassment, Jamie, Dally and Lenny decide to retaliate by vandalising Mark Cassidy’s car. And when they discover the keys are in the ignition. Dally changes the plan. Soon they are all in Mark Cassidy’s stolen car cruising through town, aiming to take it for a quick spin, then dump it. But it’s a bad plan. And as a consequence, Jamie ends up in the youth justice system where he must find a way to mend his relationships with himself, his friends, his family and his future.
Younger Readers
Dirrarn by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler and illustrated by Dub Leffler
Mia could hear the squarks of her Jarriny before she saw them. Her eye’s had flicked to the sky in search of the passing dirrarn but soon realized the noise was from the bird just beyond the gate. We first met Mia in Black Cockatoo, as she navigated her way through culture, Country and familial ties. Dirrarn follows Mia as she finds herself at boarding school and the challenges of living thousands of kilometres away from home, family, and the big sky country she loves. Mia along with her best friend, Naya, negotiate new friends, new ways of thinking and new ways of being in a different world. As Mia wrestles with all that is unfamilar, she soon must learn to stand in her truth when confronted with unending challenges. The dirrarn (black cockatoo) is Mia’s totem animal. It provides her with the strength and freedom to stay connected to her world, even when she is a long way from home. It is this totem she draws upon. Dirrarn is a sensitive story on the power of place, personality and the honour of standing up for the truth.
Uncle Xbox by Jared Thomas
Dusty spends a lot of time playing games online, and usually with his stepdad, Marcus. One Saturday morning, Marcus loads his things into his car and leaves, taking his Xbox with him. Dusty is determined to buy an Xbox of his own and tries odd jobs that don’t quite work out. That is until cool Uncle Rick turns up. Uncle Rick introduces Dusty to surfing and teaches him about his culture and connection to Country. Dusty swiftly discovers that there is more to life than gaming.
Early Childhood
Gurril, Storm Bird by Trevor Fourmile, with illustrations by Jingalu
Gurril could not understand why everyone was afraid of a snake, even if it was Gudju-gudju, the rainbow serpent! But he was soon to discover just how powerful Gudju-gudju really was and why it is not a good idea to torment the rainbow serpent. Gurril, Storm Bird is a Gimuy Walubara (pronounced ghee-moy-wah-la-burra) Yidinji traditional story that helps to explain the cultural beliefs held by the Yidinji First Nations People of Cairns. The Gimuy Walubarra are the traditional custodians of Cairns and the surrounding regions. This story has been told orally by many generations over thousands of years and is intrinsic to the Yidinji culture, both past and present. The call of the storm bird helps the Yidinji people prepare for the arrival of rain or the wet season. During the dry season the Gimuy Walubara people would dance and mimic the storm bird to bring in the rain.
Nedingar = Ancestors by Isobel Bevis, with illustrations by Leanne Zilm
This lyrical, dual language picture book from two debut First Nations creators celebrates the beauty of Country and family. ‘Please Mum, I want to meet my ancestors, I want to learn from them so I know who I am.’ Inspired by traditional Indigenous teachings, every family will relate to this beautiful bilingual picture book as brought to life by Noongar storytellers Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm highlighting the rich cultural heritage we all share. The book features gorgeously hand painted images of Australian flora and fauna.
Our Mob by Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton, with illustrations by Seantelle Walsh
Join our yarning circle and listen to our stories. Our Mob proudly celebrates our Aboriginal culture. Our Mob explores Aboriginal culture and how it is practised within families today through the perspective of a preschool child.
The Trees: Learning Tree Knowledge with Uncle Kuu by Victor Steffensen, with illustrations by Sandra Steffensen
Take a walk with Uncle Kuu in The Trees, a picture book about caring for Country and respect for Indigenous knowledge. Looking after the trees is important for keeping Country happy and healthy. First Nations People have cared for the trees on Country for thousands of years. In return, the trees look after the people and provide them with gifts of seeds, flowers, wood and more. This creates the balance between giving and taking from the land. Featuring stunning artwork by Sandra Steffensen, The Trees is a powerful and timely story to help future generations manage our landscapes and ensure that they thrive. At the back of the book, you will find lyrics to a song written by author Victor Steffensen with the title, ‘We are the Trees‘, and a QR code to watch the song’s YouTube video. This book is the follow-up to Victor Steffensen’s Looking after Country with Fire, which explains Aboriginal burning practices for children.
Eve Pownall Award (for Information Books)
Australia: Country of Colour by Jess Racklyeft
Bestselling creator Jess Racklyeft celebrates Australian animals, plants and landscapes through the lens of the colour wheel. With its vivid red dirt, big blue skies, wild green bushland and golden sandy beaches, Australia is a country of extraordinary colour. Here is a celebration of the stunning plants and animals of this colourful country, from vibrant pink Flame Peas to startling blue Fairy Wrens, electric yellow Billy Buttons, glossy black Tasmanian Devils, and many more. Come and take a closer look at nature’s paintbox and the rainbow of life that lives in Australia, from one of our best-loved picture book creators.
Bidhi Galing = Big Rain by Anita Heiss, with illustrations by Samantha Campbell
This is the story of the great flood of Gundagai in 1852 and the Wiradyuri heroes, Yarri and Jacky Jacky, who paddled bark canoes through raging floodwaters, risking their lives to save countless others.
For adults who’d like to read a bit more about this event, Anita Heiss also has an adult book dealing with the flood – Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
Country Tells Us When… written and illustrated by Tsheena Cooper, Mary Dann, Dalisa Pigram-Ross and Sheree Ford; translation by the Mabu Yawuru Ngan-ga Language Centre with Dalisa Pigram-Ross.
Some cultures around the world have four seasons that they look out for on a calendar; Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Us Yawuru mob, we don’t have four seasons that are told to us by a calendar. We have six seasons and Country tells us when they have arrived by what we feel, see, taste, smell and hear. Discover how the Yawuru people read the seasons in this beautifully illustrated book.
Songlines: First Knowledges for Younger Readers by Margo Neale & Lynne Kelly, with illustrations by Blak Douglas
How do you find your way around, get your food and drink, connect with your friends and family? How do you know the right and safe way to do things, or how to make things? Before colonisers came to the continent, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples knew how to do all these things — and much, much more. Margo Ngawa Neale and Lynne Kelly invite you on a journey through the oldest, biggest library of knowledge on Earth. This knowledge isn’t held in books: you will find it in Songlines of the land, sea and sky. This introduction to Indigenous traditional knowledges covers history, art, song, science and more. Find out what Songlines are, how they work, and how they can help all people thrive into the future.
This is a children’s edition of the book – Songlines: The Power and Promise
Tamarra by Violet Wadrill, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal, Leah Leaman, Cecelia Edwards, Cassandra Algy, Felicity Meakins, Briony Barr, Gregory Crocetti
Did you know there are four types of termite poo? Or that a warm paste made from termite mound is used to strengthen a Gurindji baby’s body and spirit? Or that spinifex (which termites eat) is one of the strongest plants in the world? Created as a collaboration between over 30 First Nations and non-Indigenous contributors, the story and artworks explore how termites and their mounds connect different parts of Country, from tiny Gurindji babies and their loving grandmothers, to spiky spinifex plants growing in the hot sun. Written in traditional Gurindji, Gurindji Kriol and English (with a QR code to an audio version spoken in language), Tamarra is a truly original story with beautiful artwork that takes readers on an educational and cultural journey through Gurindji Country.
This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! by Corey Tutt, with illustrations by Molly Hunt
This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! is an inspirational, illustrated compendium that celebrates the diversity and success of First Nations People. Written by Corey Tutt, this book features the profiles of more than 70 Blakfellas who are doing deadly things across sport, art, activism and science, through to politics, education and literature. It showcases the careers and Corey’s personal stories of First Nations People who have done great things in their respective fields, including Professor Marcia Langton, Miranda Tapsell, Tony Armstrong, Dr Anita Heiss, Danzal Baker (Baker Boy), Adam Goodes and Blak Douglas. A celebration of Blak excellence, it will inspire future generations to create change and leave readers to ponder, ‘What makes ME deadly?’.
CBCA Award for New Illustrators
Etta and the Shadow Taboo by Jeremy Worrall, and written by Jared Field
The Shadow Taboo is an old Gamilaraay tradition where one must avoid stepping on the shadows of others. Jared Field shares this traditional custom through the story of Etta – a girl who learns this lesson the hard way when she stands on her baawaa’s (sister’s) shadow. Etta turns to the spirit tree for guidance and is shown the importance of respecting the personal space of others – and the value of having her own personal space – and after apologising to her.
If I’ve missed any of this year’s books please let me know, and enjoy reading!
